The government has officially launched the pilot biometric registration phase in 15 select Counties countywide. The National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) pilot phase is set to pave the way for the mandatory registration exercise which will be done starting 15th March. Speaking in Nyandarua during the official launch of the pilot phase, Interior PS Karanja Kibicho said the mass registration will begin next month, after the government tests its system and operations during this pilot phase, “We will do the mass registration for 45 days, till around April or May, then we will take the data we’ve collected from Kenyans and sort it out, for three months,” said Kibicho. The Counties under the pilot programme are Nairobi, Busia, Uasin Gishu, Kajiado, Baringo, Marsabit, Embu, Makueni, Kiambu, Kilifi, Tana River, Kisumu, Kisii, Wajir and Nyandarua.
The NIIMS registration, which is set to cost between Kshs 5 billion to 6 billion, will enable all registered persons to have a Huduma Namba, which will be the personal identification to enable one to acquire government services after giving in the biometric data, apart from setting up one central information and data centre for everyone in the country. The digital registration process will be narrowed down to sub-locations, and different criteria have been used to identify the pilot Counties and the locations, including weather patterns and population statistics, to give the state the true picture of the whole process in varied regions. 31,500 biometric kits have been procured for the registration exercise. To be registered, one will require an identification document, this may include a birth certificate, ID card, driving license or the KRA pin. Other details required include the name, citizenship, parents, gender, date of birth, age, a digital photo, fingerprints among others.
